SPAIN
Former NBA star Steve Nash's Mallorca relegated to Spanish third tier, Girona promoted
Mallorca had a horrible year that was compounded on Sunday with a draw against Mirandes while Girona head for the top flight for the first time ever. Girona-Atletico live
Mallorca have been relegated to Segunda B despite a draw with Mirandes on the penultimate day of the Spanish second division season. Girona, for the first time in their 86 year history have been promoted to LaLiga and will rub shoulder with Real Madrid, Barcelona and the rest next season.
Mallorca trailed by two goals after 34 minutes when Maikel Mesa and Iker Guarrotxena struck to give their already slender hopes of staying safe a massive blow. They pulled one back through Juan Emmanuel Culio in the same half and landed an equaliser after 87 minutes thanks to Dejan Lekic but they currently sit four from safety with one game to play.
The club was purchased in early 2016 by Steve Nash and he urged them in October to remain calm: "I know the fans want for this historic club to return to the Primera Division but we want for the team to be promoted when they are ready to remain there for many years and I don't think we are there yet. I think we need another two, three or four years to go by," he said.
This most recent blow, however, might not sit well with the fanbase. They were, at one point, used to a certain level of success and consistently competing in the Primera division in Spain. They won the Copa del Rey at the start of the 2000's but have been steadily in decline in recent years.
They join Elche and Mirandes in Segunda B next season with Alcorcon still alive as they battle it out with Almeria, UCAM Murcia and Gimnastic as they try to avoid being the team to join them next season in the notriously difficult-to-leave third tier.
Girona rise to the occasion
After 86 years of waiting, and being forced to sit through a poor defeat last week to Nastic, Girona have finally sealed the point they needed to make it to the top flight.
They drew with Real Zaragoza, who also needed a point to ensure their safety in the Segunda, in what was a drab game by all accounts.
They will join Levante as the other automatically promoted club while Getafe, Cadiz, Tenerife and either Huesca, Valladolid or Real Oviedo take part in the playoffs at the end of June.